Search for Wanted Man Delayed School in Pike County

A manhunt in Pike County was called off this morning after a fugitive wanted on a warrant out of Madison County was taken into custody. But the search forced Pike County School Superintendent Suzanne Blake to delay Pike County Schools by 2 hours this morning.

Police asked Blake to take the action to protect students who would be waiting for buses to school during the dark this morning.

State Police Sergeant Todd Ringle sent out an update this morning on the incident:

Pike County –Indiana State Police arrested 21 year old Darius A. Hardiman of Anderson, in connection with a shooting that occurred in Anderson on March 17th. A felony warrant for attempted murder had been issued for Hardiman’s arrest.

Anderson Police notified area law enforcement agencies on April 3rd that Hardiman may be in the Evansville area. At approximately 10:30 last night, Indiana State Police and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force received information Hardiman was in the Petersburg area.

Over 20 officers from the Indiana State Police, Pike County Sheriff’s Department, Petersburg Police and Washington Police responded to the area to search for Hardiman. At around 6:30 this morning, State Trooper Justin Bean spotted Hardiman hiding in thick brush behind the Kangaroo Express gas station located on SR 57 on the north side of Petersburg.

Hardiman was arrested without incident and taken to the Pike County Jail where he is waiting transportation back to Anderson.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Blake reported to WITZ News that it was too late to cancel the 2-hour delay after Hardiman had been captured due to buses not being able to run on schedule, so the 2-hour delay was allowed to go on anyway.